Thousands Of Game Birds Gone After Pa. Farms Flood

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) – The Pennsylvania Game Commission estimates tens of thousands of game birds that were supposed to be released for the fall hunting season are gone after the flooding from Tropical Storm Lee.

Flooding badly damaged two game farms in hard-hit Lycoming County. Many pheasants drowned but others escaped and wildlife workers are trying to recapture as many as they can.

Game Commission spokesman Jerry Feaser tells the Erie Times-News stocking will be cut by 30 to 40 percent in most areas because of the flooding. All told the game commission says up to 40,000 birds drowned or escaped.

The commission had planned to stock about 105,000 pheasants before the flooding. The new number will be determined in the coming weeks.